“Empowering Community
Building Futures”
JDCEA Mission Statement
The mission of the Jo Daviess County Empowerment Alliance is to empower and support members of Jo Daviess County by providing access to resources, opportunities, information, and services that cultivate economic stability, personal and professional growth, and collective well-being.
Our Origin Story
Although the town of Galena, IL is superbly equipped to provide any number of services to its residents, over the past few years, it became clear that there were some at-risk populations that were being overlooked.
The Jo Daviess County Empowerment Alliance emerged as a solution. While our mission is broad, our focus is significantly more targeted.
Our Plan
Certain subgroups of the population in rural communities face multiple risk factors—social isolation, limited economic opportunities, and inadequate support services—and frequently have been systematically overlooked by state and federal policy initiatives that focus primarily on urban populations. These people often lack access to specialized counseling, mentorship programs, and educational resources that could help them navigate critical challenges. Challenges that are often seen as insurmountable because these individuals are simultaneously facing unique pressures of small-town social dynamics where “everybody knows your business. In this climate, seeking help can carry lasting stigma.
Despite experiencing higher rates of mental health crises and having fewer pathways to economic mobility than their urban counterparts, these at-risk individuals remain a minority subgroup that is largely invisible in policy discussions, with funding formulas that favor majorities and seemingly ignore geographic isolation and need.
In the near future, we will be hosting forums capable of connecting our target populations directly with town, county, and state legislators. We aim to teach people how to make important connections with decision-makers, end empower them to cultivate economic stability, personal and professional growth, and collective well-being..
